Trooper shoots and kills man in Soldotna

ANCHORAGE (AP) -- An Alaska State Trooper shot and killed a man in Soldotna who refused to leave his truck and then drove it at another trooper, the agency said Saturday.

The man's identity was not being released until relatives could be notified.

According to troopers, a state Department of Transportation employee spotted a blue sedan early Saturday parked in a pullout on the Kenai Keys Road at mile 80 of the Sterling Highway.

The transportation department employee told troopers the sedan had been parked at the pullout for more than a couple of hours.

Two troopers arrived at the scene. While one of the troopers talked with the man, another stood outside the patrol car, which was parked in front of the sedan.

The man twice refused to get out of his car so one of the troopers sprayed him with pepper spray in an effort to get him to comply. The man then began driving his car toward the marked patrol car and the other officer.

The trooper nearest the man ordered him to stop and when he didn't fired his gun, hitting the man. The car continued moving until it hit the patrol car. Medics were called but the man died at the scene.

The two troopers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave.